Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Chris Wilson

Barcrest casinos: The best UK sites for Barcrest games in 2026

Barcrest is a UK casino software provider of both game machines and online casino games, and the creator of the hugely popular Rainbow Riches slot series.

UK players will be familiar with the Rainbow Riches games, and nowadays hundreds of online casino sites offer Barcrest games, with Sky Vegas and Paddy Power Games among our best recommendations for Barcrest casinos.

In this guide, we’ve provided a rundown of the best Barcrest casinos on the market, explaining what Barcrest is today, our recommended best Barcrest casinos for playing its games in the UK, and how to check if a casino is properly licensed.

If you’re a UK casino player who wants to find Barcrest titles – such as Rainbow Riches, Monopoly Big Event and Ca$hino – on a UKGC-licensed, fairly-tested site, then you can read on to find your best options below.

What is Barcrest?

Barcrest is a physical and online game producer founded in 1968 in Manchester (later based in Ashton-under-Lyne). It started out building physical fruit machines for UK pubs and clubs, then moved into land-based cabinets through the 1990s.

International Game Technology (IGT) bought Barcrest in 1998 and took it online, then Scientific Games acquired Barcrest Group from IGT in 2011 for around £35m.

Scientific Games then rebranded as Light & Wonder in 2022, so Barcrest now operates as one of Light & Wonder’s content brands rather than a standalone company.

Rainbow Riches, launched in 2006, is Barcrest’s best-known creation and has spawned a long line of sequels (Rainbow Riches Megaways, Pick’n’Mix, Cluster Magic, Drops of Gold). Other notable titles include the Monopoly-branded slots and Ca$hino.

Licensing sits at the parent level. Barcrest content reaches UK operators through Light & Wonder’s UKGC gambling software supplier registration rather than a separate Barcrest-only UKGC certificate.

On the Malta side, Light & Wonder’s MGA Critical Game Supply Licence (MGA/B2B/112/2004) is held by LNW Gaming Malta Limited.

Best Barcrest casinos to play in the UK

The table below provides a comparison between our recommended Barcrest online casinos available in the UK. All four are UKGC-licensed brands that carry Barcrest’s Rainbow Riches series.

Online casino

Games library

Best for

Sky Vegas

500+ slots

The original Rainbow Riches launch partner online - Sky Vegas was the first site to bring the slot to real-money play and has carried the series since

William Hill

400+ games

Long-standing Rainbow Riches coverage alongside a well-established sportsbook crossover for players who bet and play slots on one account

Paddy Power

600+ games

Confirmed Rainbow Riches and Rainbow Riches Megaways coverage under its PPB Entertainment Limited UKGC licence, with a lively games hub

Coral

500+ games

Confirmed Rainbow Riches coverage with in-client RTP disclosure, plus Coral’s wider retail-to-online crossover

Sky Vegas

Sky Vegas is the pick for players who want the Rainbow Riches original on the site that launched it. Sky Vegas offers over 500 slots (and is the historic first real-money home for Rainbow Riches on mobile and desktop) plus a wide spread of other Barcrest and Light & Wonder titles.

Sky Vegas Casino offers a great all-round product, with the Sky Vegas welcome offer providing new users with 50 no deposit free spins and 200 free spins when they deposit and play with £10.

There are a raft of offers for existing users elsewhere, while both the Apple and Android apps are highly rated by users, carrying scores of 4.5 and 4.1 respectively. Sky Vegas also stands out as one of the best payout casinos on the market with its range of slot games, including Barcrest options.

Verdict: Sky Vegas is the best pick for players who want the Rainbow Riches original, on the site that launched it. Find out more about the online casino in our complete Sky Vegas review.

William Hill

William Hill is among the top Barcrest online casinos because it is the best all-rounder for players who want Barcrest slots alongside a household sportsbook name, and new customers can benefit from its solid casino bonus.

Hills casino offering includes 400+ games and confirmed Rainbow Riches coverage, as well as a well-reviewed mobile casino app (4.5 on the App Store), and a single account that spans casino and sports betting. You’ll also find Microgaming Casino and other major providers available online.

Verdict: William Hill is the pick for players who want a great all-round online casino that provides Barcrest online slots alongside a household sportsbook name.

Paddy Power

Paddy Power is the pick among Barcrest casinos for players who want the newer Rainbow Riches spin-offs alongside the classic.

Paddy’s casino offers over 600 games – with Rainbow Riches and Rainbow Riches Megaways included – and a games hub run under Paddy Power’s own UKGC-licensed entities.

The brand is known as one of the biggest gambling companies in the UK, and the Paddy Power Casino product can rival that of its betting site, with no deposit free spins for new players via the Paddy Power casino promo code.

There exclusive Paddy Power slots and live casino tables from providers such as Push Gaming casino along with a raft of offers for existing customers.

The one drawback is that the Android app is rated 3.8 compared to the 4.5 rating of the iOS app, but desktop and iOS users will still enjoy a great overall gambling experience.

Verdict: Paddy Power is the best choice for players who want access to newer Rainbow Riches spin-offs alongside the classic game, all while on one of the most well-known UK gambling brands.

Coral

Coral is the our recommended pick among the best Barcrest casinos for players who want transparent in-client Return To Player information on Barcrest slots. The brand offers a catalogue of over 500 games, including Rainbow Riches and with very visible RTP disclosure.

Though Coral is known for its long-running retail-to-online presence and sports betting platform, the Coral online casino is also impressive, with a Coral casino welcome bonus offering 100 no-wagering free spins.

Both the Android and iOS casino apps are among the highest rated on this list too, with ratings of 4.5 and 4.6/5 respectively.

Verdict: Coral is a solid choice for those who want transparent in-client RTP information on Barcrest slots and a trusted UK brand.

Key points to know about Barcrest casinos

Games: Look for Rainbow Riches, Rainbow Riches Megaways, Monopoly Big Event and Ca$hino. These are the clearest signal that a casino carries genuine Barcrest content rather than a similarly-styled fruit machine slot.

Licensing: Check that the casino itself is UKGC-licensed, then bear in mind Barcrest content is supplied under Light & Wonder’s own UKGC software supplier registration rather than a Barcrest-specific certificate. Readers can check both on the UKGC public register.

Fairness: Barcrest titles are tested by accredited labs before going live with a UK operator, under Light & Wonder’s wider compliance programme - the real answer to "is it rigged", not just reassurance.

Bonus wagering cap: UKGC capped bonus wagering requirements at a maximum of 10x, effective 19 January 2026.

Common mistakes & misconceptions about Barcrest

  • Assuming Barcrest is still an independent company: It has operated as a Light & Wonder content brand since the 2011 Scientific Games acquisition, so it is no longer a standalone studio.
  • Believing every Rainbow Riches variant plays and pays the same: RTP and volatility differ across the Megaways, Pick’n’Mix, Cluster Magic and Drops of Gold versions, so always check the individual game’s info screen.
  • Assuming a licensed operator automatically carries every Barcrest title: Game availability depends on each casino’s own content deal, so always check the games lobby or software-provider filter directly.

Summary

Remember. if you’re looking for a new UK casino that has Barcrest games, your choice will depend on your own preferences and what you want from the site.

In terms of the brand itself, remember that it is now a Light & Wonder content brand, and is licensed at the parent supplier level rather than under its own certificate.

Of course, we are confident in recommending four UKGC-licensed options that are among the best Barcrest casinos on the market.

Paddy Power is the best choice for players who want access to newer Rainbow Riches spin-offs alongside the classic game all while on one of the most well-known UK gambling brands, and William Hill is the pick for players who want a great all-round online casino that provides Barcrest slots alongside a household sportsbook name.

Elsewhere, Coral is a solid choice for those who want transparent in-client RTP information on Barcrest slots and a trusted UK brand, but Sky Vegas is the best pick for players who want the Rainbow Riches original, on the site that launched it, alongside one of the best-rated online casinos on the UK market.

Responsible gambling

Please gamble responsibly when using any Barcrest casinos and playing Barcrest slots. The same goes for any gambling site.

Only people aged 18+ based in the UK can legally gamble. Remember to always set a budget before playing – never exceed it, and never chase any losses.

Rainbow Riches’ bonus-round format can encourage chasing a feature that feels ‘due’, but remember that each spin is independent and a bonus round is never overdue.

Tools such as self-assessment calculators, deposit limits, loss limits, max-bet limits, reality checks and time-outs can help you stay in control of your gambling, and these can be found on every UKGC-licensed casino.

If you would prefer to go further and stop your gambling completely for a set length of time, GamStop allows users to exclude themselves from all UKGC-licensed gambling sites.

Several charities and healthcare providers in the UK can give you free, confidential support and information if you want help with gambling-related issues. Useful sites include:

Barcrest casinos - FAQs

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.